Booking a Philadelphia hotel with a pool for anything but summer? Skip the rooftops. The pools at The Windsor Suites and Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown are seasonal, so don’t plan a winter swim there. W Philadelphia keeps its outdoor pool and pool bar open all year, and Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center has the best indoor swim in town, heated and with city views. Here’s where I’d book, from summer-only rooftops to pools you can swim in come January.
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Philadelphia Hotels
| 1. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center Highest Pool in Philly Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 10-minute walk to City Hall Pool: Heated indoor infinity-edge pool on the 57th floor, open all year Guest Reviews: 57th-floor infinity pool, city views, spa, sky-lobby cocktails, soundproofed rooms, comfortable beds, in-room iPads, room service Best Room: Skyline Corner One Bedroom King Suite Good to Know: Allow a few extra minutes: you switch elevators to reach the 60th-floor lobby. Price: From USD $1,445 – $1,515 per night |
| 2. The Windsor Suites Rooftop infinity pool with skyline views Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 9-minute walk to City Hall Pool: Seasonal rooftop infinity pool on the Skydeck, with skyline views and a fire pit Guest Reviews: Rooftop pool, skyline views from high floors, full kitchens, separate dining areas, spacious suites, gym, on-site bar, dog-friendly rooms Best Room: Skyline Club Level King Suite Good to Know: Street noise carries up to the higher floors, so light sleepers should pack earplugs. Price: From USD $210 – $275 per night |
| 3. Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG Best-Value Rooftop Pool Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Location: 7-minute walk to City Hall Pool: Seasonal rooftop pool with loungers and a terrace, open in summer only Guest Reviews: Rooftop pool, hot breakfast buffet, pancake machine, pastries, fresh fruit, spacious rooms, comfortable beds, coffeemakers, fitness room Best Room: Standard King Room Good to Know: Head down to breakfast early, since the buffet room fills up fast. Price: From USD $155 – $300 per night |
| 4. W Philadelphia Best Winter Outdoor Swim Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 6-minute walk to City Hall Pool: Heated outdoor pool on the 7th-floor WET Deck, open all year, with cabanas Guest Reviews: Heated WET Deck pool, floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, plush beds, WET Bar cocktails, weekend DJs, AWAY Spa, cold plunge Best Room: Cool Corner, Guest room, 1 King, City view, Corner room Good to Know: Ask for a high floor, away from weekend DJ sets and street noise. Price: From USD $405 – $570 per night |
| 5. Hotel Anna & Bel Best Courtyard Pool Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 10-minute drive to City Hall, Fishtown Pool: Heated, tree-shaded courtyard pool with a checkerboard deck, open in the warmer months Guest Reviews: Courtyard pool, on-site restaurant, cooked-to-order breakfast, grand staircase, art collection, in-room kimonos, infrared sauna, stylish rooms Best Room: King Suite Good to Know: Parking is off-site, so an app-based taxi beats driving in. Price: From USD $445 – $795 per night |
| 6. AKA University City Pool 28 floors above the river Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 5-minute drive to City Hall, University City Pool: Heated 72-foot indoor pool on the 28th floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows Guest Reviews: 28th-floor pool, spacious suites, skyline views, full kitchens, in-unit washer-dryers, golf simulator, private cinema, outdoor terrace, Walnut Street Café Best Room: One Bedroom Premium Penthouse Good to Know: Pack light: every suite comes with a washer-dryer and a full kitchen. Price: From USD $350 per night |
| 7. The Rittenhouse Hotel Saltwater swims on Rittenhouse Square Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 15-minute walk to City Hall Pool: Heated indoor saltwater atrium pool in the Rittenhouse Spa & Club, open all year Guest Reviews: Lacroix restaurant, saltwater atrium pool, spa treatments, Rittenhouse Square views, spacious rooms, sauna, steam room Best Room: King Room with Park View Good to Know: Book early if you want a park-view room overlooking Rittenhouse Square. Price: From USD $640 – $1,210 per night |
| 8. The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton Indoor pool by the Parkway museums Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 12-minute walk to City Hall Pool: Heated indoor pool with loungers, next to the spa, open all year Guest Reviews: Assembly rooftop bar, Parkway views, Urban Farmer steakhouse, breakfast, heated indoor pool, spa, art-filled rooms, courtyard Best Room: Premium One-Bedroom King Suite with Balcony Good to Know: Skip the valet and park in a nearby garage for less. Price: From USD $215 – $275 per night |
| 9. Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Airport Best Pool Near the Airport Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Location: 12-minute drive to City Hall, Southwest Philadelphia Pool: Heated indoor pool with a shallow end, open all year Guest Reviews: Hot breakfast, full kitchens, spacious suites, airport shuttle, heated indoor pool, fire-pit patio, on-site bar, fitness center Best Room: One-Bedroom Suite with One King Bed Good to Know: Bring a travel kettle, since the in-suite kitchens don’t include one. Price: From USD $175 – $255 per night |
Which Philadelphia Hotel Pools Are Open in Winter
From October to May, an outdoor swim in Philly depends on the calendar, not the forecast.
- Deep Winter, December to February: Highs sit between 41°F and 46°F, and the seasonal rooftop and courtyard pools are shut. The upside is the thinnest tourist crowds of the year, especially in January and February. Book an indoor pool and see Independence Hall without the summer lines.
- Is May Warm Enough for an Outdoor Swim? Just about. Hotel Anna & Bel opens its courtyard pool in May, and the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG rooftop follows in late May or June.
- Once Labor Day Weekend Passes: The Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG rooftop closes for the season. Hotel Anna & Bel keeps its courtyard pool going through September, so book it for a late-summer trip.
- From October Through November: Highs drop from 67°F to 56°F and the seasonal pools stay closed. In town for the Philadelphia Marathon in November? A heated indoor pool is the best recovery you’ll get from a hotel.
For any trip between October and May, I’d book an indoor pool and save the rooftops for summer.
Where to Stay in Philadelphia for a Pool Hotel
Philly’s pool hotels spread across six neighborhoods, and each one puts a different city outside the lobby door.
- Midtown Village and Market East: Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG sits right among the Midtown Village restaurants and shops. Reading Terminal Market and Rittenhouse Square are both within a 10-minute walk.
- Want to Wake Up on Rittenhouse Square? The Rittenhouse Hotel sits on the west side of the square, with the Walnut Street shops on its edge. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center is a few blocks north, inside the tallest building in the city.
- Stay on the Parkway for the Museums: The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton sits on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Logan Circle. The Windsor Suites is a 6-minute walk from Fairmount Park.
- If You’re Arriving by Amtrak: AKA University City is a 5- to 8-minute walk from 30th Street Station. The Penn and Drexel campuses are a 5-minute walk away.
- Heading to Fishtown for Dinner: Hotel Anna & Bel is a 4-minute walk from Fishtown Diner and Fishtown Market. The Berks Street and Girard Avenue stop is 6 minutes away on foot.
- Near the Runways and Stadiums: Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Airport is a short drive from Lincoln Financial Field and the South Philadelphia arenas. Book it for a game night or an early flight.
For a first visit, I’d stay in Center City or on the Parkway and walk everywhere.
Philadelphia Hotel Pools for Kids
With kids, shallow ends and a museum nearby matter more than pool size.
- Shallow Ends for Small Swimmers: The listings for The Rittenhouse Hotel, AKA University City and Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Airport all show a shallow end. Check for one before you book with a toddler.
- Which Pool Pairs Best With a Science Museum? The Franklin Institute is the closest landmark to The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton. Spend the morning on the exhibits and the afternoon in the pool.
- If Your Kids Want Swim Lessons: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation runs free swim lessons for children at its city pools every summer. Check the city’s pool finder for the nearest site.
With young kids, I’d book The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton and split the day between the Franklin Institute and the pool.
Getting From PHL Airport to Center City, University City and Fishtown
The Airport Line train links the terminals straight to Center City and University City, so you can skip the car.
- SEPTA’s Airport Line: Trains stop at the terminals and run to 30th Street, Suburban and Jefferson stations. Jefferson is about 25 minutes away. Check the station name on the platform sign before you board.
- Which Station Matches Your Hotel? Get off at Jefferson Station, on Market Street between 10th and 12th, for Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG. Use Suburban Station, at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard, for Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Windsor Suites.
- Ride the Market-Frankford Line to Fishtown: Jefferson Station has an indoor passage to the Market-Frankford Line. Ride it to Girard station for the Frankford Avenue restaurants. For Hotel Anna & Bel itself, an app-based taxi from the airport is simpler.
- When Your Bags Are Heavy: Flat-rate taxis from the airport reach Center City in 15 to 20 minutes, so the fare doesn’t climb in traffic.
I’d ride the train into Center City and University City, and take a taxi to Fishtown or whenever you’re hauling big bags.
How to Swim in Philadelphia Without a Hotel Pool
Booked a hotel without a pool? Philly still gives you two ways into the water.
- Day Passes at W Philadelphia: W Philadelphia sells AWAY Spa day passes covering the WET Deck pool, the FIT gym, the spa locker rooms, and the CONTRAST sauna and cold plunge. Pool passes are also bookable online.
- Want a City Pool? Philadelphia Parks & Recreation runs more than 60 outdoor public pools, free for city residents. They open on a rolling basis from mid-June and start closing in mid-August.
- Pick Marian Anderson Pool Near Rittenhouse Square: Marian Anderson Pool sits on South 17th Street, five blocks south of Rittenhouse Square. Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park is one of the city’s big ones.
In winter I’d buy the W day pass, and in July I’d check whether a city pool will let you in.
Where to Eat Near Philadelphia’s Pool Hotels
Center City and Fishtown hold the best eating near the pool hotels.
- Reading Terminal Market: The city’s big indoor food market is half a mile from The Windsor Suites, with its own stop at 11th Street station on the Market-Frankford Line. Go hungry and graze your way through lunch.
- What’s on 13th Street? Barbuzzo serves Mediterranean plates, wood-fired pizzas and a salted caramel budino. Book ahead for dinner.
- Book Parc for Breakfast on the Square: Stephen Starr’s French brasserie on 18th Street serves croissants in the morning and onion soup late into the night. Vernick Food & Drink, with its creative small plates, is a 0.6-mile walk from The Windsor Suites.
- If You’re Staying in Fishtown: Suraya on Frankford Avenue serves Lebanese food, and brunch on its garden patio is the summer move. Pizzeria Beddia and the barbecue and bourbon at Fette Sau are close by.
I’d eat at least one dinner in Fishtown, even if you’re sleeping in Center City.
FAQs
1. Which Philadelphia hotels have rooftop pools?
Two hotels run true rooftop pools: The Windsor Suites and Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG. Some roundups also list The Rittenhouse Hotel and Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG, and both are wrong. The Rittenhouse Hotel keeps its pool indoors in an atrium, and Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG shows no pool on its listing at all. Treat rooftops as a June to August plan and swim indoors the rest of the year.
2. Which Philadelphia hotel has the best pool?
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center has the best hotel pool in Philadelphia. Its infinity-edge pool holds 30,000 gallons, enough room for laps even when the deck is busy. Order a bento box lunch from In-Room Dining and it lands right on your lounger. For a skyline swim at about a quarter of the price, book AKA University City instead.
3. Are there hotels with pools near the Philadelphia Museum of Art?
Both The Windsor Suites and The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton put the museum within walking distance. The Windsor Suites sits between the museum and City Hall, and The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton is about a mile from the museum. Walk up in the morning, run the Rocky Steps, and be back at the hotel before lunch.
4. Which hotels with pools are closest to Philadelphia International Airport?
Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Airport is the closest pool hotel to PHL, a 3- to 6-minute drive from the terminals. Book it for an early departure or a late arrival, when crossing the city at midnight makes no sense. For a longer stay, sleep in Center City and ride the train out to the airport on your last morning.
5. Is it hot enough in Philadelphia for a rooftop pool?
From June to August, yes. July is the hottest month, with average highs between 86°F and 88°F, and the humidity makes a rooftop swim feel earned. June averages around 83°F and August around 86°F. September still reaches 79°F, so a pool that stays open past Labor Day gets real use.
6. Are there Philadelphia hotels with saltwater pools?
Yes, The Rittenhouse Hotel runs one of the few saltwater pools in Philadelphia. It sits inside The Rittenhouse Spa & Club, which looks out over Rittenhouse Square and has 10 treatment rooms and a full-service salon. Join an aquaerobics class if laps aren’t your thing, and book a massage for afterward.
7. Which pool hotels are closest to the Pennsylvania Convention Center?
Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG and The Windsor Suites are the closest pool hotels to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Windsor Suites is a 6-minute walk away, and Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown by IHG is within 10 minutes on foot. Jefferson Station sits right next to the Convention Center, so you can step off the airport train and head straight to registration.
